DM Panic's PFS Perils

Game Master wakedown

Flustered, Jarid turns to Thorel, who wearing a face of innocence holds aloft a pair of brightly colored wings.

"Th- th- those... why those were clipped by a celestial butterfly that graced the first ever Swallowtail Festival held in Desna's name! I believe that very creature still attends the Dreamer's court, hmmm?"

The Qadiran's attention bounces back and forth between Damvorak, Ramli and Thorel as he assesses the "customers" in his shop.

"We can do business. It must be brief, and I insist that brute of a half-orc wait outside."

You've recovered him back from hostile to unfriendly. He will take 20g from Thorel for the wings. If you wish to ask him further questions, be mindful of how they are worded and how you work your way up to them. Please roll a Diplomacy check (or Intimidate/Bluff if that's the route you are taking) with the post.

Thorel swirls in hir new wings and giggles. Ze shows absolutely no interest in asking questions, but does give a friendly smile to Damvorak as he presumably exits the stall.

Benjamin harumphs as he determines the strange elf is best kept at a distance.

Probably destroy my experiments.

"Jarid, right? We're interested in the Lance. As Pathfinders we seek to understand where it came from. Do you know of it's history and how you came to own it? We are interested in purchasing it but have to be sure of it's authenticity first."

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7

Thorel winces ever so slightly as the image fills hir head of a Sky Citadel plummeting from the heavens. Not meant for flight, these dwarves of Golarion. Ze hides a giggle behind hir hand.

Damvorak shrugs and begins to exit the stall listening to Benjamin as he does so...

Hrm., does he still have the shard? I thought the society already got that bit back.

Damvorak looks at the next stall over and examines the wares with a casual eye - just killing time.

"We understand the Greycloaks took your wares, unjustly I'm sure, friend." Ramli says with a sympathetic smile. "Still, any such sort of find is of interest to us. Have you anything else of similar historical significance that we might be able to purchase?"

Despite his attempt at to hide it, it's clear the bombastic sorcerer is already growing tired of the lying merchant and would much rather let Damvorak at him.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Oh well, so much for diplomacy...

Blarg, you guys aren't even making the assists!

Jarid winces once again as Benjamin reminds him of his affiliation with the Pathfinders.

As his face twists again in frustration, he first turns to Ramli to find the Garundi already pressing and returning to the matter of stolen goods and thievery.

Searching his stall for something, Jarid finally finds solace in Thorel's giggling and twirling in the vibrant, majestic butterfly wings.

He chooses to ignore both Ramli and Benjamin's inquiries, waving them off like children.

"Splendid, are they not? It's said the Chelaxian diva Alashandra wore these for a performance once, attended by all the princes and princesses throughout Avistan. They suit you..."

OK, someone come in for the Diplomacy hail mary... Harrol?

Thorel just titters, not knowing what to say to the strange Golarion alien. Wh•† ¡s a ∂¡√å?

Blarg, you guys aren't even making the assists!

Sad Rock cries inside, as even his attempts to assist have been ignored by the Gods.

*sigh* *sniff* *sniff!*

Sad Rock steps out from Ramli's shadow to continue his support of the questioning. which he's totally been doing...and succeeding...I wasted a nat 20 and a 19 assisting!

"Please tell Sad Rock about Iumdae's shart."

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2 Diplomacy

Maybe I should keep you all in this shop until your dice break out of this slump...

As the large oread talks about taking a shart, Jarid's eyes wander the room and wind up focusing on Young Harrol's.

@Harrol: Don't worry about changing the topic, just use your halfling charm to ask and give him the Puss-In-Boots look. And don't forget to roll Diplomacy. You'll get a circumstance bonus from Thorel, at least.

Diplomacy + Touch of Glory (yeah no pressure or anything): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Harrol shrugs, answering the merchant's gaze with a weak smile. "We both have a job to do, sir. Just give us what we need to know and we can be on our way."

Harrol's meek expression does little to sway the merchant's demeanor.

Jarid harumphs and gestures towards the exit from the stall.

"With the sale of those wings, our business appears to be concluded. Good day, gentlemen."

DC20 Diplomacy to shift him from indifferent to friendly. On the bright side, he's back to indifferent from hostile. On the dark side, it looks like everyone has tried a Diplomacy roll so he's a dead end unless someone has a trick up their sleeve.

Thorel frowns at Jarid. That one is curious. Artless. How came he to possess such loveliness? Ze smiles at hir wing cape and twirls. "This one would follow where you think best in your strange city."

Too bad Moblyd's not here to REALLY charm him!

"Bah. Damn merchants. We've got some other leads, let's try one of them."

Benjamin stares darkly at the shop they so recently vacated.

A bomb here, a bomb there...

Sad Rock leaves the shop in tears and waits outside for the rest of party, facing a wall so no one sees his watery eyes of failure.

Harrol wrings his hands, turns on his heel and leaves the tent in a huff; an act that would be much more theatrical if he were not almost entirely dwarfed by the merchant's counter.

He turns to the others, fuming, but breathes deep and lets a calm wash over him. "The Inheritor would have us vanquish worse evils than crooked merchants. Let's try elsewhere, shall we?"

"Excuse me?" he says, tugging on a passerby's sleeve. "Perhaps you could help us. We're trying to find..."

Gather Info: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

If you complete that sentence, I can advance the scene to who you are trying to find. :)

I was going to leave the call to the others! But if you insist on calling me out on my laziness...

"...Cayden's Hall."

"My thanks, friend" Ramli says to the passerby as he gives Harrol the information.

Turning to his companions, he gives a broad smile. "Let's see if we can't try to see a little less threatening, though hopefully this witness won't be as frustrating to deal with as that merchant."

As the party leaves the shop, Damvorak wanders over from a nearby stall where he was killing time.

"So what did you learn? Where did he get the shard?"

Harrol shoots the half-orc a defeated look, and head hung, makes to find the witness and avoid his gaze.

Harrol shoots the half-orc a defeated look, and head hung, makes to find the witness and avoid his gaze.

Sad Rock wipes away some extra tearage away from his eyes and goes to pat Harrol gently on the back.

"There, there."

He just like Sad. But only smaller and with less 'rugged' good looks.

"He turned out to be less of a friend and more of a problem. We may have to come back, but first let's see what the others can tell us."

"Don't worry, we'll be coming back later. I have some interesting powders I'd like to use for testing the authenticity of his wares. Now tell me Sad Rock, where do you keep all your tears if you're made of rock?"

Sad blinks away his wet eyes.

"What you talking about?"

1d20 - 2 ⇒ (8) - 2 = 6 Bluff

Harrol last little trouble getting townsfolk to guide the affable young halfling in the right direction to find Rialla Barleyhusk.

Working your way through the streets, you take a well-known shortcut between streets and hear a voice calling out from behind you, and Sad Rock is saved from answering Benjamin's question - for the moment.

"Hey, you! Maybe you all shouldn't be putting your noses where they don't belong!"

Two thugs lower crossbows, while a large black dog wearing a spiked collar steps between the men and the Pathfinders, growling in a threatening tone.

Round 1
23 Thorel
22 Harrol
20 Ramli
18 Sad Rock
17 Enemies
8 Benjamin
4 Damvorak

Combat Map

Now Up: Thorel, Harrol, Ramli and Sad Rock!

"And maybe you should take your own advice!" Ramli calls, spinning around.

His fingers move in a series of rapid gestures and suddenly a flaming dragon leaps from his hands, zig-zagging toward the thugs, only to explode in their face! 2 hp, dazzled 1 round; DC 14 Reflex for half damage and no dazzle

Round 1, Init 18

Sad Rock crestfalls immediately at the thugs' words.

I've only been in town a short while and already I have enemies.

Sadly, Sad draws his sad club as he sadly marches to H11 where he will ready to strike any attacker.

"Leave Sad Rock alone. Sad NOT monster! Sad good rock!"

There. I explained it good! They'll soon realize their mistakes and politely back off. :)

Round 1, Init 23

"∆∂v•k! This one cautions care. Peace is our geas. Let us pass, low caste ones." Thorel takes out a roll of octagonal paper, unfurls it and reads. A purple haze envelopes hir. Mage armor.

Harrol will join his hands and cast bless. "Iomedae, cast this city in the light of truth once more, and show favour to the enemeies of the wicked..."

Thorel and Harrol recite the words to their spells, while Ramli's discharges directly into one of the thugs, who appears more annoying than injured by the theatrics.

"Git'em Bruiser!"

The snarling dog rushes ahead on command and leaps directly into Sad Rock's waiting club, getting whacked to the ground like an oread "sport ball". The canine whines and snaps at Sad Rock before dropping in an unconscious heap.

One of the thug fires at Sad Rock in retaliation, but his bolt instead only finds alleyway wall.

The second thug, with a twang, fires a bolt directly at Benjamin which sticks into the dwarf's thigh. (5 dmg to Benjamin).

Both men reload, still seeming confident at their odds.

Round 1
23 Thorel : Casts Mage Armor
22 Harrol : Casts Bless
20 Ramli : Fireworks
18 Sad Rock : Moves to H11, readies swing
17 Dog (-6) : Charges at Sad Rock, gets pummeled, drops
17 Thug #1 (-1) : Fires at Benjamin, hits for 5, reloads
17 Thug #2 : Fires at Sad Rock, misses, reloads
8 Benjamin :
4 Damvorak :

Round 2
23 Thorel :
22 Harrol :
20 Ramli :
18 Sad Rock :

Map Link

Now Up: Everyone!

Round 2, Init 23 {>G13}

"This one thanks you for target practice."

Thoril steps out from behind Ramil, drawing what looks like a strange cross between a crystalline wand and Alkenstar pistol. Ze dials a nob and, if one of the thugs approaches within 30 feet, says, "UhTRAYdees." A bolt of force fires from its 'barrel.'

Telekinetic fist, ranged touch, point blank shot: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12
1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Round 1, Initiative 4, Location: I15->G10

Damvorak moves from the back of the party to stand by Sad Rock. He uses his hand of the acolyte to hurl his staff at one of the archers (the one on the left).
Hand of the Acolyte: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 for damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"Why do you attack us? Who hired you?"

Round 1 Init 8

Benjamin grimaces at the damage done to his clothes while contemplating the nerve damage caused by the bolt. Deciding this contemplation is best done out of range, he ducks behind his sturdier companions.

Move to H15

"Remember not to kill them."

With that he pulls out his latest purchase, a shiny new wand of curative magic.

"Gluttons for punishment, huh, boys? Well, it's your lives!" Ramli calls out. Still, concerned about their seeming bravado, he looks around for any other attackers that might be lending them such confidence.

Not seeing any he shrugs, and points at the two of them, sending a ray of fire in their direction.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Ray/ranged touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Round 2, Init 18

Sad frowns at the downed puppy, another confirmation of the pointlessness of life.

Bad masters make you do that. Sad smash bad master!

Sad charges to H6 to strike at H5 (or I5).

"Sad not monster! You made me hurt goggie!"

1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 = 25 to hit;
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 damage.

Benjamin wisely falls back while drawing his wand while Damvorak uses his trick to hurl his staff, which hurls about the two thugs somewhat ineffectively.

While of the men grunts at the demonstration, the other ducks under a flaming ray launched by Ramli.

Unfortunately, as he comes around he meets Sad Rock's club and gets the wind knocked out of him, giving him little opportunity to grunt back to his companion.

Nodding to each other, they both step back in unison and fire their crossbows at Sad Rock. A single arrow thuds into the oread's shoulder (4 dmg to Sad Rock)

"Har! That'll teach you for meddling! Best you all stay outta things! Then you won't get hurt!"

Sad Rock can feel the sad, penetrating brown eyes of a dog staring at his back.

Round 1, Con't
8 Benjamin : Moves to H15, pulls out wand
4 Damvorak : Throws staff, misses

Round 2
23 Thorel : Hits for 4 dmg
22 Harrol : TBD
20 Ramli : Barely misses
18 Sad Rock : Charges, hits Thug #1 for 5 dmg
17 Thug #1 (-6) : 5ft step, fires crossbow, misses, reloads
17 Thug #2 : 5ft step, fires crossbow, hits Sad Rock for 4, reloads
8 Benjamin :
4 Damvorak :

Round 3
23 Thorel :
22 Harrol :
20 Ramli :
18 Sad Rock :

Map Link

Now Up: Everyone! (and Harrol twice)

Round 3, Init 23 {I8}

Thorel moves up and fires hir ray gun at the rightmost thug. "This one remains full of gratitude for the practice. UhTRAYdees!"

1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 = 14
1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

Young Harrol uses his scroll of magic stone in Round 2, hurling it at the archer at I4 and soaring wide.

magic stone: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

BTW: Thorel's ready wouldn't have gone off in Round 2—the thugs didn't close to within 30'.

Round 2 Init 8

Benjamin heals himself with the wand.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Round 2, Initiative 4, Location: G10->G5

Damvorak moves up along the wall to the left thug and tries again to swat him down.

"Your message isn't getting through, but I think ours may - now tell us who sent you!"
Quarterstaff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 for damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Wiff!

"Ha! They're still fighting. Best give up now, boys, or you'll end up like the poor mutt!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Round 3, Init 18

Sad Rock's head whips around at Ramli's mention of the hurt goggie.

They made me do it. I'm not a monster! I'm *not*!

Struck with sadness, Sad ignores his foes and the throbbing in his shoulder to go tend to the dog.

Move to H7, cast Stabilize.

Sad begins to pet the dog.

Sorry, lil buddy. You'll be fine. I'm not monster.

Stones, staves and wands alike all fail to hit the thugs, who both turn to each other and relay knowing glances.

"Ha! I think we showed them good enough! That big rock monster looks like he's going to cry!"

"Yeah, this is enough to be paid."

With a final nod to each other, both men hold their final crossbow shots and turn back to the main street where they rush off into the crowd.

You can obviously give chase, or we can drop out of combat.

Wands? Which wands? That's a ray gun, mister!

Thorel giggles. "That was fun! Target practice, and no one died. Man-rock, don't cry. Look, the g•nuß çån¡∂åe lived!" Thorel polishes hir ray gun, adjusts hir bangle-laden arm band, and fluffs the wings of hir new cape. Ze doesn't seem interested in giving chase.

What about the dog!? DOES THE DOG LIVE!? There are crying Rocks who want to know!

Sad checks on the goggie again, quite sad.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 Heal Check

Sad Rock bats his damp eyes, wondering why it seems like no one else is moving or doing anything to help the goggie, but then realizes that tears have just clouded his sight.

I'm sure they are going to help save the puppy! I just know it! I'm not a monster!

Sad Rock steps up, finds the muscled bulldog barely breathing.

However, with the (delicate?) touch of his rock-like hands, he feels he is able to stop the poor creature from going to goggy-heaven this day.

I'll advance the scene tomorrow, feel free to roleplay your interpretations of this ambush between now and then.

"Looks like somebody knows we're on the trail."

Benjamin eyes the water flowing out of Sad Rock then harumphs in disgust before moving to the dog and tapping it with his wand.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"There, it'll live."

Damn waste.